Rift Valley Adventures, the International School of Kenya (ISK) and BRCK have partnered to launch the Kio Kit at the Ol Pejeta supported Irura Primary School. The Kit consists of 40 customised tablets that aim to enrich the student’s learning through internet access, educational materials and games. The content library (server) and the internet both run from solar power, making it financially and environmentally sustainable.

A team from ISK, technicians from BRCK, staff from Rift Valley Adventures and Ol Pejeta’s community development department joined the Irura students and teachers for the launch of the Kio Kit and training the students on their use from the 12th – 15th October. The 40 tablets are connected to a server, which contains all the educational content for students to access. Thanks to Mawingu, the tablets are also connected to the internet free of charge. Both these systems are solar powered.

Students from Irura Primary posing with the KioKits

The launch consisted of four days of training for both teachers and students. It also provided a fantastic opportunity for cultural exchange for the students from ISK and Irura. RVA hosts students from all over the world, and as the two groups embarked on an anthropological tour of the area, these students were offered the chance to meet and interview  an elderly member of the local community, where they learned about ancient traditions and were even taught how to dance – much to the amusement of all involved.

ISK pupils watching a play on Agikuyu culture acted by Irura pupils

The excitement was tangible from the Irura students as they learned about the new world offered to them through the Kio tablets. Ol Pejeta hopes to partner more support organisations with surrounding schools, so that this eco friendly e-learning can impact more schools around Laikipia.